Mushers sign up for 2004 Iditarod

Sports editor

WASILLA -- Robert Sorlie is out, Doug Swingley is in and G.B. Jones is at the top of the list.

Seventy-six mushers signed up for the 2004 Iditarod at the race's headquarters in Wasilla Saturday. The number is a record for the 31-year old race.

Doug Swingley is among one of four former champions to sign up for the 1,100-mile trek to Nome.

Swingley, will return to the Iditarod after sitting out the 2004 season.

Former winners Rick Swenson, Martin Buser and Jeff King also are in the 2004 field.

Absent from the list is Robert Sorlie. The Norwiegan musher took the dog mushing world by storm last year, winning a historic 2003 Iditarod in historic fashion. Sorlie decided not to pursue a second consecutive title, but his racing partner Kjetil Backen will race.

G.B. Jones was the first in line to sign up for the race. The Knik musher has called Iditarod headquarters home for the last week, camping in the parking lot and waiting for the chance to sign up.

Jones has made a habit of leading the pack on sign up day. For the last three years, Jones has camped at the headquarters to be the first in line for sign up day.

And for a simple reason.

"Web site exposure," Jones said.

Mushers have until Dec. 1 to sign up for the race.

The 2004 Iditarod is scheduled to start March 6 in Anchorage.